Rationale

Mental illness or more specifically, depression and social anxiety are issues which many people face at present. Although depression and social anxiety is known through all of media a majority of netizens misconstrue the signs, symptoms, and deluding effect they cause, all the while belittling it. The stature of that statement is not that Mental illness is treated lightly on purpose but more so the exposure of how one interprets it. On the internet there are a large sum of creators who open up, allowing users to recognize they’re not alone, validating their emotions. however these messages are only a glimpse/fraction of someone’s life. A mask. Generally, the side people don’t show, is a suffering so cruel, unbeknownst to even the sufferer. The images of depressive and social phobic experiences blurs. The once negative stigma has now been lifted, though one cannot say for sure that the outcome is positive. It’s healthy to understand that someone isn’t insane for having a mental illness, however in this day and age, the genuine impact it has, feels to be underemphasized. As a result, manic individual’s empathetic attitude towards mental illness is numbed.Depression, characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities, it is a leading mental illness which affects approximately 264 million people globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and around 1 million people in Australia (ABS). Social anxiety affects a significant portion of the Australian population. According to data from Beyond Blue, one of Australia's well-known mental health organizations, social anxiety is estimated to affect over 10% of the Australian population at some point in their lives. It's symptomized by an intense fear of social situations, causing people effected to avoid social interactions and resulting in significant distress. This condition can manifest in various ways, from anxiety at social gatherings to difficulty speaking in public or even ordering food at a restaurant (Note that it can also be situational). Social anxiety can have a profound impact on one's personal and professional life, making it crucial to seek appropriate treatment. Fortunately, there are effective therapeutic options, including cognitive-behavioral therapy and medication, to help individuals manage and overcome social anxiety, enabling them to lead more fulfilling lives. It's essential to raise awareness about this condition and promote a supportive environment where those affected can seek the help they need. Both are more common among women than in men.Journalists and reporters noticed the relevance when “in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by a massive 25%.”(WHO). In fact, the drastic effect of social anxiety is distinguished, since as a collective, spending so much time isolated during the ever-changing pandemic would most definitely cause an unfavourable aftermath. Without support the ones who must pay the price are the ones going through a hell of a life. They themselves may not be the first to ask for help, but those who don’t understand the reality of the pain and emptiness will never have a real-world outlook. If someone’s suffering is trivialized and condemned as a minimal issue than that insecurity, that judgment would all intricately weave the brain into an everlasting negativity. Even if mankind is “able to pinpoint the people or experiences [they] believe are missing from [their] life—and contributing to [their] feelings of emptiness—[they] may be able to take concrete steps to fill that void, says Dr. Demaria.” (Forbes Health) however this is not a journey one can venture alone.As well as understanding those who experience depression it is crucial to acknowledge they can also create a vulnerable environment. There are many who’s friends, family and loved ones suffer from mental illness and as much as it affects the one experiencing it, it can also affect others negatively. As this issue is already very prominent in their life it is likely to be contagious, not in a literal sense, but on the substantial emotional influence.First noticing the issue when life-changing effects of social anxiety and depression had a misconception. One would be asked “why couldn’t you just talk to them?” Why? Why indeed. People who experience social anxiety and depression mustn’t need to experience horrific existential environments to be diagnosed. As often said, “you never know what’s going on in someone’s life” is an accurate representation of how one must interpret the situation. Often times mental illness is not visible to the eye, and it is never an easy thing to understand or wrap your head around, which is understandable unless you experience it. As a result, many however do not cater to this vital factor and can impact a person negatively with no intent to.Depression and social anxiety are widespread and debilitating mental health disorders that affects millions of individuals worldwide. It not only hinders an individual's quality of life but can also have profound societal impact. Truthfully addressing depression and social anxiety is pivotal in providing effective support, fostering a more empathetic and understanding society. Furthermore, addressing these issues can contribute to increased productivity and better mental health outcomes, ultimately benefiting both individuals and society as a whole.The round square ideals are Internationalism which is understanding of the similarities and differences of other cultures and nationalities as a means to connect and immerse yourself. Democracy is a sense of equality, of fairness, justice and unbiased. Environmentalism, when you tend to your environment and adapt a sensual spirituality to identify problems and consequences of actions on the planet. Adventure is taking risks and developing a courage to step out of your comfort zone, pushing yourself beyond perceived limits. A community which displays Leadership are people who recognize success and can be driven by it positively, they are able to nurture, guide and help others to go down the right path. And Service which is self-explanatory, support those in need throughout the world with your own understanding and responsibility of social actions . Now you may wonder how these ideals correlate to my topic, in the establishment of my choice of research an ideal was already in mind, that being Adventure. At first Adventure may not seem the right “word” but when you analyze what it means to lie under the ideal of Adventure, it’s more than a fitting choice.Explained earlier, Adventure is a chance to push yourself beyond perceived limits and to muster your learned courage into something more. The act of opening out about personal experiences that others may never understand or experience is a huge leap towards that objective. When diagnosed or even simply just feeling this way (MDD, SAD) you may feel tormented by just the existence of other people, the gnawing feeling of judge mentality and prejudice is an internal torture and as a result makes it almost impossible to speak out about it.In the end Adventure isn’t just the act of going out to unknown areas, exploring and documenting new places but more so no matter how small or how big, whether it’s your own emotions or your own identification, it is being able to take that step of courage to find yourself.